The Great Council is expected to meet later this month after Cabinet endorsed the i-Taukei Affairs (Great Council of Chiefs) Regulations 2024.
The Regulations are intended to ensure that the Bose Levu Vakaturaga successfully accomplishes its objectives following its re-establishment by Parliament via the enactment of the i-Taukei Affairs Amendment Act No. 25 of 2023, last November.
They elaborate on the functions of the Council and facilitate the appointment of members, who will be nominated by Bose Vanua in each Province.
The nominees shall be Turaga i-Taukei or Marama i-Taukei or Liuliu ni Yavusa who have been traditionally installed and recorded as such in the Register of i-Taukei Land administered by the i-Taukei Lands Commission.
Each Province will nominate 3 members to the Council, with an additional 3 members from Rotuma nominated by the Rotuma Island Council.
The Regulations encourage the Bose Vanua to nominate women to be members of the GCC.
As it did from 1999-2007, the Bose Levu Vakaturaga will under the Regulations appoint a Chairperson from amongst its members.
The chairperson holds office for 3 years and is eligible for re-election.
The Regulations provide that the Permanent Secretary for i-Taukei Affairs will be the Secretary of the Council.
The GCC will meet on 28 and 29 February 2024.
